Slowly but surely, the gaming world is becoming ever so slightly fairer, with female gamers like poker ace and BBC quiz show presenter Victoria Coren beginning to break through to the higher echelons of the industry. Give it another generation and we’ll start to see an increasingly even spread of male and female gaming stars, but for now at least, the classic image of a casino icon is that of a man; a Frank Sinatra, a James Bond, a George Clooney, an impeccably suave alpha male with class, flair, money and serious cojones.

What man in their right mind wouldn’t want to be that guy? Well, with a bit of luck, a fairly considerable amount of expenditure and a good deal of careful thought, many of us Average Joes can actually get pretty close to the mark and become something akin to those pop culture heroes of casino folklore and pick up some of the action.

Without further ado, here’s a handy guide to the three key components you need to have in place to turn heads as a casino-slaying leader of the pack:

The Get-up: You’ve really gotta nail this one. While some serious gamers can rock the casual look complete with Hawaiian shirts, flip-flops and secret fortunes, you’re not just here to have a good time, you’re here to look like a king while you’re at it. The guy in the Hawaiian shirt never gets the best hotel action post-casino play! If money’s no object then we suggest a high-end tailored suit – you can be sure there’ll be plenty of people around you who can spot an ill-fitting jacket and you can bet your bottom dollar they’re pretty merciless human beings. If you’re on a budget, go for vintage cool – Harris Tweeds are surprisingly easy to pick up cheap and can be altered to fit for a small charge.

The Game: If you think you can just walk straight into a casino and impress your peers without learning the ropes first, you’ve got another thing coming. There’s nothing further from the suave casino ideal than an inexperienced player making a hell of a lot of noise without really respecting the culture and history of the industry. Make sure you know your stuff before even setting foot in a casino. To get your game up to scratch, practice anonymously online at sites like Jackpot Capital Casino, immerse yourself in the mythology and history of the industry and learn your hard hands from your pokies.

The Girl: To feel like the complete casino king you’re going to need a dazzling queen on your arm – the Julia Roberts to your George Clooney, the Eva Green to your Daniel Craig. Whether or not you’re already attached, you’ll find that getting a lovely lady to join you on a trip to the casino is anything but a hard sell – just be sure to wine and dine her at your chosen pleasure palace’s glitziest restaurant to keep her howling at your every roll of the dice.